Garbage Pile-Up Stops Man’s Apparent Suicide Attempt

NEW YORK - FEBRUARY 18: A man walks past garbage bags piled on top of mounds of snow on Second Avenue February 18, 2003 in New York City. The worst blizzard in the mid-Atlantic region in seven years delivered almost two feet of snow to the city. (Photo by Mario Tama/Getty Images)(Photo by Mario Tama/Getty Images)

NEW YORK (CBSNewYork/AP) — One week after a blizzard paralyzed the city, the snowdrifts were melting Sunday but the mountains of trash were growing.

The build-up of trash, however, may be the reason why one Manhattan man is still alive.

Police said a 26-year-old man, apparently trying to commit suicide, jumped from a 9th floor window Sunday afternoon at 325 W. 45th Street. However, he landed on a pile of uncollected garbage bags, which padded his plummet and eventual fall.

People called 911 and police arrived at the residential building between 8th and 9th avenues, where they found the man in a semi-conscious state. He was taken to Bellevue Hospital, where he is in stable condition.

Trash collection had been suspended while crews struggled to plow city streets in the aftermath of last Sunday’s powerful snow storm, which left behind 20 inches of snow.

The Department of Sanitation announced it would resume garbage pickups on Monday.

“We are able to resume garbage pickups now that significant progress has been made,” Sanitation Commissioner John Doherty said.

Recyclables won’t be collected until further notice, but Christmas trees will be picked up. Alternate-side-of-the-street parking rules will be suspended again on Monday.